A proposed luxury dog daycare in Fortitude Valley plans to care for up to 80 dogs a day inside Brisbane’s nightclub precinct, with firm behaviour rules that allow staff to separate overstimulated dogs or send them home early if they fail to settle.
The plan (DA A006928434) was lodged on December 22, 2025, and outlines a premium indoor dog care centre to be built in the basement of a coworking building on Brunswick Street.
A New Kind of Business for Fortitude Valley
The proposal, submitted by The Houndry Pty Ltd, would see a former office tenancy transformed into a high-end dog daycare, grooming and boarding facility in the heart of Fortitude Valley. Planning documents show the centre would operate mainly during business hours and cater to inner-city residents who live in apartments and work nearby.
The facility would include indoor activity zones such as a dog gym, a nature-style play area with textured surfaces, and dedicated rest spaces where dogs can calm down between activities. Dogs would be grouped by size, temperament and energy levels, and rotated through different areas during the day.
The site, located beneath the Wotso coworking space, was selected for its distance from traditional low-density housing and its proximity to surrounding commercial uses. Planning consultants noted that moving dogs from apartments into a managed indoor setting could reduce daytime barking complaints across residential areas.
Strict Behaviour Management Built Into the Plan
Unlike many traditional dog daycares, the Fortitude Valley proposal places strong emphasis on behaviour control. Management plans submitted to Council state that dogs showing unsafe, aggressive or overly reactive behaviour would be removed from group play and placed in a separate calming area. If behaviour does not improve, owners would be contacted for early collection.
The documents describe these measures as necessary to maintain safety for dogs and staff, particularly in a high-density indoor environment. Care ratios are expected to be lower than the minimum required standard, allowing closer supervision throughout the day.
The centre also proposes overnight boarding for up to 20 dogs, with staff on-site and similar behaviour controls in place after hours.
Noise, Design and Council Oversight
Given Fortitude Valley’s mix of nightlife, offices and apartments, noise management has been a key focus of the application. An acoustic report submitted to Council estimates barking noise levels and outlines mitigation measures including acoustic ceiling panels, sound-treated walls and airlock entry points.
The report states that predicted noise levels would be lower than those commonly permitted for licensed entertainment venues in Queensland. Planning documents also note that the entire facility would be indoors, with no external dog runs.
Architectural plans show a total floor area of approximately 563 square metres, including grooming rooms, veterinary treatment areas, staff facilities and reception. No major external building changes are proposed beyond internal works and a minor roller door modification.
Growing Demand for Inner-City Dog Care
Brisbane City Council records show more than 105,000 registered dogs across the city as of October 2025, with demand for daycare services increasing alongside apartment living and return-to-office work patterns. Planning reports note that many existing dog daycare centres operate at capacity due to council limits on animal numbers.
The Houndry has indicated it plans to operate on a membership model, similar to other premium dog care providers in Brisbane. Pricing has not yet been released.
Council will assess the application under impact assessment rules, which allow for public submissions before a final decision is made.
Published 9-Jan-2026
